Switch



Jan. 16,1934. M. H. RHODES E'r AL 1,943,839

SWITCH Filed Feb. 14, 1951 s sheets-sheet 2v Jan. 116, 1934. M. H. RHODES Er AL 1,943,839

y swI'rH Filed Fb. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Vgn Patented Jan. 16, 1934 SWITCH Marcus H. Rhodes, New Haven, vand .lohn

alliginorl Fanloi, Hartford, Conn.,

Rhodes. Inc of Delaware Application February 14,

toBLH.

New Haven, Conn., a corporation 1931. semi Ne. :sumasy p 11 Claim. (Cl. ZOO-39) This invention relates to switches. and with regard to certain more specific features to time controlled, delayed action switches.

Among the several objects` of the invention may be noted'the provision of a switch of the class described which includes unitary means for alternatingly delaying the making or breakingl of contact; the provision of a switch of the class described in which the time delay feature is operable in a single adjustable means whether the delay be utilized for delay in making or delay in breaking contact; and the provision of a switch of the .class described which is relatively simple in construction and operation and which involves a minimum number of complicated and delicate parts. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention-accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts, steps and sequence of steps, which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated one ot various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a supporting plate;

Flag. 4 is a horizontal crossv section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figi 6 is an ideal section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7` is a fragmentary section taken along line '1-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 5 showing the switch in a condition of operationadvanced from Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section similar to Figs. 5 and 8 illustrating the switch in a further advanced condition of operation from Figures 5 and 8;

Fig. l0 is a vertical section 10-10 of Fig. 4;

Fig. l1 is an ideal section taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the manner in which, a. main spring is mounted;

Fig. i3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 13-13 of Fig. l1;

Fig, 14 is a fragmentary section taken on line 14-14 ofFig. 11; and.

Fig. 15 is a trlmetric view of a latch lever.

Similar' reference charactersv indicate sponding parts throughout the several views of n the drawings.

taken along line Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and y 2, numeral 1 indicates a iiush face plate of the type in general use for wall mounting of electrical switches. A central opening 3 permits a control'handle 5 of a switch 7 to extend outwardly to an available manipulating position. Screws 9 hold the faceplate l to the switch "l,

A second opening 2 in the face plate 1 permits 'the face plate screwsl 9 engage) and a switch housing 13' having exterior connecting terminals 15 and 17 mounted thereon. The housing 13 is preferably formed of an insulating material, such` as a phenolic condensation product or the like.

The housing 13 is held'to the mounting plate l1 by screws 19 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

The mounting plate 11 is illustratedin detail in Fig. 3. It will be seen that it comprises a long,

relatively narrow vertical portion 12 having sideward portions 2l and 23 extending at right angles from the general plane of the plate. A central opening 14 permits the passage of the switch handle 5. Openings 16 at the extremities of the plate 11 permit attachment of the switch as' a whole to a permanently installed wall housing or the like. Threaded holes 18 are-provided to receive the face plate mounting screws 9 and threaded holes 20 to receive the switch housingv time control means will be described separately and then correlated.

. Referring' now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that a plate 25, which is shaped with substantially the same contour as the heusing 13, is attached to the portion 21 of the mounting plate 11 byA means of rivets or spot welding circular portion 31 from which extends a knob 33 for manipulation purposes. The back', consealedl (in the assembled'switch) portion of the switch handle 5 is reduced in thickness as a numeral 35 (Figs. 6 and 7) and has a contour including a projection 37 having a nose 39 thereon, and a depression, or hallowed-out portion 41. 'lne pin 29 upon which the handle 5 is rotated passes through the thin portion 35, in the region of the projection 37.

Mounted rigidly on the switch handle 5, embracing the thin portion 35 thereof, and extending into the depression 41, is a saddle member 43. This saddle 43 comprises a pair of legs 45, which fit snugly against the sides of the handle 5, and has a cross-piece 47 at right angles to the legs 45. The pin 29' passes through the legs 45. The cross-piece 47 engages the nose 39 of the projection 37 of the switch 5, whereby the saddle 43 is, relative to rotation on the pin 29, ilxed to the handle 5. That is to say..i the saddle 43 is mounted on the handle 5 in a fixed, non-rotatable manner. The cross-piece 47 is provided with a nose 49 which engages one end of the compression spring 51 to be described more in detail hereinafter.

Associated with the saddle 43 is a movement limiting means for the handle 5 (see Fig. 1). The movement limiting means per se comprises a flat H shaped piece 53, having parallel legs 55 and 57, and a single extending leg 59. The leg 55 passes loosely through a pair of holes 61 in the legs 45 of the saddle 43. The single extending ieg 59 passes through a slot 63 in the plate 25 having a predetermined length. Considering that the saddle 43 is iixed to the handle 5, and that the plate 25 is relatively a part of the stationary ground wherein the handle 5 rotates, it will be seen that-engagement of thesingle extending leg 59 with the ends of the slot 63 limits the rotation or movement of the handle 5.

Also mounted on the pin 29, in this instance rotatably mounted, is a second saddle 65 embracing the saddle 43. The saddle 65, hereinafter termed thev hammer saddle, comprises a pair of relatively long legs 67, through which the pin 29 passes (loosely enough to permit of ready rotation), and a hammer portion 69 at right angles thereto. The hammer portion 69 has a nose 7l thereon which engages the otherend of the compression spring 51. Movement of the hammer sadde 65 is limited by a pair of ears 73 struck from the plate 25. A notch '14 permits the passage of a latching means as willibe d escribed more particularly hereinafter.

It will be seen that the saddles 43 and 65 to-', gether with the compression spring 51 comprise an over-centering toggle. In Fig. 5, motion of the handle 5 in a leftward direction, through the saddle 43, compresses the spring 51 against the saddle 65, which is immovable because of its engagement with the right-hand ear 73, until the saddles 43 and 65 pw the parallel position, at which time the compressed spring reacts to suddenly throw the hammer saddle 65 to the left against the left-hand movement-limiting ear 78, as is shown in Fig. 8. A similar reaction and overcentering action causes the hammer saddle .e5 to snap sharp1y from the left to the right,

when the handle 5 is moved back toits right- Ahand position.

exterior terminals 15 and 17 comprise, respecmass y tively,metallicstrips75and77whichareheld.

to the housing 13 by means oi' screws 79, and which receive in threaded engagement screws 81 (see Pig. 4). By means of the screws l81, exterior to the switch The metallic strip 75 extends into the housing 13, spaced from the side wall thereof,'and is provided with a slanting knife-edge contacting portion 83. The metallic strip 77 extends into the housing 13, also spaced from the side wall thereof, and is provided with a knife-edge contacting portion 85 similar to the contacting portion 83, but facing in a diii'erent direction. A

Formed in interior of the back of the housing 13isaprotrudingear87. Apinorshaft89 passes through the side of the housing 13 and threadedly engages the ear 87 (see Figs. 4 and 6). 0n the pin 89 is rotatably mounted a. eontactor bar-anvil assembly 91. 'Ihe parts of the assembly 91 are non-rotatable or otherwise movable relative to each other, but the assembly as'a whole rotates freely on the pin 89.

The assembly 91 comprises an anvil piece 93, and a contacter bar 95, together with sui le spacing' washers, all mounted on a sleeve "97 through which the pin 89. The anvil piece 93, preferably formed of insulating material, includes a notch-'99 which engages the hammer portion 69 of the hammer saddle 65 (see Fig. 5). The contactar bar 95 comprises a pair of springmetal strips 101 shaped to engage and disengage, by rotation on the pin 89, the knife-edge contacting strips 83 and 85. The relative shape ofthe bar 95 and the spacing of the contacting strips 83 and 85 will be apparent from Fig. 5.

As the hammer saddle 65 snaps from Fig. 5 position to Pig. 9 position, as described hereinbefore, its engagement with the notch 99 in the anvil piece 93 causes the assembly 91 to rotate, as a whole, on the pin 89, and consequently causes the contactar bar 95 to rotate into and out of con- Y tact with the pieces 83 and 85. 'I'hus making and breaking of an electrical connection from ter- The time controlling mechanism is illustrated generally in Figs. 4 and 10.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. i0, it will be seen that the knurled wheel 4 is mounted on a main shaft 109, which is in turn supported at one end in a plate 111 and at the other in the plate 25. The plate 111 is substantially the same shape as the plate 25, described hereinbefore in connection with the switch construction. The plate 111 is supported on the plate 25 in spaced relationship by means of spacing collars 115 (see Fig. 4) and screws 117 (see Fig. '5).

Mounted on the main shaft 109 in such a manner as to react against the relatively stationary plate 111 is a main spring 119. The manner of mounting the main spring 119 is illustrated more mdmuin. nwnereit wmbeseentnac one end of said spring passes around and hooks upon an ear 121 struck from the plate 111, while the otherend of said spring 119 is hooked over a proiection 123 formed on the main shaft 109. A pdrofears125,lihewisestruckfromthe.plate i111, serves to hold the main spring 119 in coiled or V In order to prevent the main spring 119 from releasing sidewardly, and in order to provide additional protection against the main spring 119 uncoiling, a main spring protecting cover 127 is provided on the main shaft 109 (see Fig. 11). The knurled wheel 4 and the main spring. cover 127 are prevented from rotating on the main shaft 109; because they are formed so as to engage a flattened portion 129 on the main shaft 109 (see Fig. 12).

It.will accordingly be seen that turning ofthe knurled wheel 4 winds up,l the main spring 119, thereby occasioning a reverse torque on the main shaft 109.

An escapement mechanism is provided to permit the torque so produced in the main spring 119 to expend itself by rotating the main shaft 109 only at a predetermined rate of speed. This escapement is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. A large gear 131 is mounted loosely on the main shaft 109. A friction disk 133 is mounted in a nonrotatable manner on the main shaft 109 in juxtaposition to the large gear 131, in such a manner that the shaft 109 may turn, when winding up `the main spring 119, without rotating the large gear 131, but also so that the frictional engagement of the disk 133 with the gear 131 will not permit the mainspring 119, after it has been wound up, to unwind without turning the gear 13 1, which is itself connected to the regulating escapement mechanism. It is thus seen that thegear 131 remains stationary when the main spring 119 is wound before rotation of the knurled wheel 4, but that on unwinding of the main spring 119, the gear 131 is effectively nonrotatable upon the main shaft 109.

Engaging the teeth of the gear 131 is a gear train. In the present embodiment the gear train comprises a pinion 135, driven by the gear 131, and which is mounted on a shaft 137 supported between the plates 111 and 25. Also mounted upon the shaft 137 in an immovable fashion is a large gear 139. The large gear 139 in turn drives a second pinion 141 on a shaft 143 having a second large gear 145 mounted thereon. The pinion 141, shaft 143, and large gear 145 are, respectively, similar to the pinion 135, shaft 137, and large gear 139.

The large geai'v145 in its turn drives a third pinion 147, similar to the pinions 135 and 141, which is mounted on a shaft 149, similar to the shafts 137 and 143. Immovably mounted on the shaft 149 is also a sprocket wheel 151, the shape of which will be more apparent by'inspection of Fig. 14. The shafts 137, 143 and 149 are all sup portedby end bearings in the plates 111 and 25.

It will be seen that there is a large increase `in angular motion from the= gear 131 tothe sprocket wheel 151, or, considering it in the reverse manner, there is a large decrease yin angular motion from the sprocket wheel-151 to the gear 131. This increase or decrease, considered either way, is controlled by the relative sizes of the gears 131, 139, and 145, and the pinlons 135, 141 and 147.

Engaging with the sprocket wheel 151 is the escapement mechanism per se. This escapement mechanism (see also Figs. 13 and 14) comprises a balance wheel 153 mounted on a balance wheel shaft 155, which is pivoted between bearing plates 157 and 159 which are threaded into the plates 111 and 25, respectively. The bearing plate 157 is provided with a square bead. so that adjust- "sprocket wheel 151.

ment of the pressure on the shaft 155 may be effected. In general, the bearing plates 157 and 159 are adjusted so that the shaft 155 turns loosely in them.

A hair spring 161 is secured at one end to the shaft 155, as indicated at numeral 163 (Fig. 13), and at the other end to the relatively stationary plate 111, as at numeral 165 (Figs. 10 andA 11). This hair spring 161 is arranged to provide a small counter-clockwise torque on the shaft 155, as viewed from the side represented by the plate 111.

The shaft 155 is provided with a notch 167 cut therein, at the region of its engagement with the sprocket wheel 151. The notch 167, when in a proper position, permits the sprocket wheel 151 to turn freely, as will be described hereinafter.

Extending at substantially a right angle from a spokeof thebalance wheel 153 is a pin 169. The pin 169 engages teeth of the sprocket wheel 151 and cooperates with the notch 167 to form an intermittent escapement mechanism for the This escapement operation will be apparent by reference to Fig. 14. In Fig. 14, there is a clockwise torque `on the sprocket wheel 151 providedby the main spring 119 acting`through the gear train 131, 135, 139, 141, 145 and 147. There is a smaller counter-clockwise torque on the balance wheel 153 provided bythe vhair. spring 161. The torque on the balance wheel 153 forces the pin 169 against the edge of a tooth 171 of the sprocket wheel 151. The greater torque on the tooth 171 causes it to advance, thereby forcing the pin 169, by a cam action, to rotate against the torque of the hair spring 161. Rotabalance wheel shaft 155, and is stopped thereby.

Returning to the action of the tooth 171 on the pin 169, the force on said pin exerted by the tooth 171 is sufficiently great to occasion the rotation of said pin 169, against the torque of the hair spring 161, to an extent considerably greater than merely to pass over the crest of the tooth 171. In other words, the pin 169 is snapped away to rotate, say sixty degrees, against the hair spring 161. With the pin 169 out of the way, the sprocket wheel immediately turns until the next advancing tooth 173 is stopped by contact with the smooth, circular portion of the shaft 155. 'I'his tooth 173 cannot advance until the shaft 155 turns hair spring 161 occasions coextensive rotation of the shaft 155, with the result that as the pin 169 reaches`a position of contact with the forward edge of the tooth 173, the notch 167 is brought into proper position to permit the forward rotation of the tooth 173, acting under the torque of the main spring 119. So advancing, the leading edge of the tooth 173 engages and rotates the pin 169 against the torque of the hair spring 161, and the action of the tooth 171 is thus repeated by. the tooth 173.

In such a manner the balance wheel 153 and its attached parts serve to permit only timed, intermittent motion of the sprocket wheel 151, and, through the gear train 147, 145, 141, 139, 135, 131, the main shaft 109. By reason of the reduction eiect of the gear train, as described hereinbefore, the main shaft 109 is accordingly permit- Y ted to rotate at only a very slow speed, and the main spring 119, after being wound up, thus 1mwinds only very slowly. y

At numeral 175 in Fig. 4 is illustrated a latch lever (see also Fig. 5) which is rotatably mounted at one end on a pin 177, which is in turn supported in holes suitably positioned in the plates 25 and 111. The lever 175 -is immovably secured on the pin 177 so that rotation of said pin and said lever are coextensive. A spring wire 179 passes through a hole in pin 177 and rests at its other end against one oi' the collars 115. The spring 179 holds the lever 175 normally in its upper position (see Fig. 5).

The lever 175 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 15, where it will be seen that said lever is provided' with a sloping cam surface 181 whch is adapted to engage with a lugr or the like 183 struck from the friction disk 133 on the main shaft 109. Also formed on the free moving end of the lever 175 is an oiset portion or lug or latch 185, which extends at right angles 'from said lever 175 and passes through an opening 187 in the plate 25 into a position adapted to intercept movement oi' the hammer saddle 65.

The latch portion 185 is eifective in operation in two directions. In the first place, should the hammer saddle be moving from the righthand, Fig. 5 position to the lefthand, Fig. 9` position, it will be seen that the far end of the portion 185 is adapted to intercept movement of said latch. Similarly, if the hammer saddle be moving from the Fig. 9, lefthand position, to the Fig. 5 righthand position, the lefthand end of the portion 185 intercepts such movement. The spring 179 normally keeps the latch 185 in p0- sition to intercept the hammer saddle 65, but when the lever 175 is detached as by the engagement of the lug 183 on the cam surface 181, the latch 185 is forced downwardly sc that it is positioned in the notch 74 in the hammer saddle 65, and said hammer 'saddle 65 is permitted to swing freely.

The operation of the present invention is as follows:

Fig. 5 represents the switch as a whole in its disconnected oii' position with the knurled wheel 4 set for zero time delay. With the knurled wheel 4 so set, the lug 183 is engaging the surface 181 and holding the latch 185 out of operating position with respect to the hammer sad? dle 65. In other words, with the knurled wheel 4 at its zero settng, the latch 185 is ineectual to prevent motion of the hammer saddle 65.

If it be desired to make a connection without any time delay, the main switch control handle 5 is thrown to the left and the overcentering action of the compression spring 51 swings the hammer saddle 65 to the left and causes the contactor bar 95 to complete the circuit between the terminal pieces and 77.

If, however, it is desired that a time delay be interposed between the time at -which thecontrol lever 5 is thrown to the left and the time that the contact is made, the knurled wheel 4 is rotated to the proper indicia as determined by the of the switch at this stage of operation.

With the elements positioned as in Fig. 8, the escapement mechanism, slowly permita the main shaft 109 to rotate back to its normal, zero", position. As the shaft 109 approaches its normal position, the lug 183 moves into comtactwlth the cam surface 181 on the lever 175 and ulti,- mately, as the shaft 109 reaches its normal po- 105 sition, depresses the lever 175 to the extent that the latch 185 is forced out of t with the hammer saddle 65. At the time the latch 185 is removed from engagement with the hammer saddle 65, the compression spring 51 immedi- 110 atelysnapsthehammersaddlesharply tothe left, with the result that said hammer saddle rotates the contacter bar into contact with the terminals'75 and 77 thereby completing the circuit after the-desired interval o! time has elapsed.

Disregarding the position of the latch lever 175, Fig. 9 correctly represents the relative positions of the elements at this stage of operation.

If, with the connections made and the elements positioned as above described, it is desired to disconnect the switch without time interval, this may be accomplished by allowing the knurled wheel -4 to remain at its zero position and throwing the control handle 5 from the left to the right. Again, with the narrow wheel 4 at its fzerorposition, the latch 185 is out of len gagement with the hammer saddle 65 and manipulation of the control handle 5 results in an immediate throwing of said hammer saddle to the right, with the result that the contador. bar

K95 is removed from connection and the circuit la broken.

If, however, it be desired that an interval of timepass betweentheimtantofthruwingthei; control handle back to vthe righthand off position, the manipulation is similar to that described in connection with the introduction of a time interval for the making of the circuit contact. In this event, the knurled wheel 4 is again 14@ enmmemalissampheawenlm making or breaking the contacts this-may be aci complished by manually turningthe knurled wheel 4 back to its zero position, with which turning the latch 185 is manually brought out of operative relationship with ,the hammer saddle. and said hammer saddle permitted to swing freely. It is to be understood that such adjustments may be achieved regardless of the relative condition of the various elements of the switch, or whether the escapementhas started to run and has not completely expired, or the like.-

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be' made in carrying out theabove constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that has been thrown to disconnecting position.

2. A time delay switch comprising a control handle, an electrical switch, a time delay mechanism, and a latch operated by said time delaymechanism adapted selectively to control the time oi' making connections after said handle has been thrown to "on position, or the time of breaking connections after said handlehas been thrown to oT-position.

" 3. A ytime delay switch comprising a control f handle, en e1eetriea1 switch, and e time delay said time delay mechanism being adapted selectively to control the time of making connections after said switch has been thrown to connecting position, or the time o! breaking connections after the switchhas been thrown to disconnecting position, and means for adjusting said time delay mechanism whereby the4 extent of time delay may be regulated.

4. An electrical switch comprising a pair of terminals, a contactor bar adapted to connect and disconnect said terminals, mechanical actuating means for said contactor bar comprising a -swingable hammer saddle,- and a separate timecontrolled latch, said latchbeing adapted selectively kto prevent said contactor bar from moving connect or to disconnect said terminals, under inuence of said actuating means.

5. An switch comprising a pair of terminals, 'contactor bar adapted to connect f. and disconnectlsaid terminals, actu..

atingmeansorsaid a 'termined time interval after the switch has been swingable hammer saddle, and a single means for temporarily preventing said actuating means from moving said contactor bar to contacting position with said terminals at one stage of operation, and alternately for preventing said actuating means from moving said contactor bar from contacting position with v,said terminals at a sec- -ond stage of operation, and means for adjusting,

said single eans whereby its operative period is regulated, id last-named means including a timing train and escapement mechanism, and ineens for varying the setting of said timing train.

6. In a time-delayed switch, a single means for preventing the making of contacts for a predetermined time interval aiter the switch has been independently actuated to move to on position and for alternately preventing the breaking of contacts for a predetermined time interval after the switch has been independently actuated to move to oir position.

7. In a time-delayed switch, a single means for preventing the making of contacts for a predetermined time interval after the switch hasbeen independently actuated to move to on position andfor alternately preventing vthe breaking of contacts for a predetermined time interval after the switchhas been independently actuated to move to oil position and a single adjusting means for alternately regulating both of said time intervals.

8,. In a time-delayed switch, a single means for preventing the making of contacts for a prev determined time interval after the switch has been independently actuated to move to on position and for alternately preventing -the breaking o'f contacts for a predetermined time interval to move to o position and a single adjusting Ameans for alternately regulating both oi said time intervalsand adapted to throw said single means temporarily out of operation for either on or on movement. p

9. In a time-delayed switch, a single means for preventing the making oi' contacts for a predeindependently actuated to move to on" position and for alternately preventing the breaking of contacts for a predetermined time interval after the switch has been independently actuated Ato move to -foiT position, said single means' comprising a single latch and a time delay mech-- anism associated therewith.

10. In a time-,delayed switch, a pair of termi- I nals, a contactor vbar adapted to connect and disconnect said terminals, a control handle and av swingable hammer saddle,"over-centering means connecting said ,handle and saddle, said saddle." being positionedfto engage said contactor bar whereby, upon motion .of said control handle in one direction, said contactor bar is movedto connecting position and' upon motion of said control handle in a contactor bar is moved to disconnecting position, and a single time-controlled latch interposable in the path of said saddle to delayy motion of said saddle, and of said contactor bar, in either direction, for a predetermined time interval after said controlv handle is moved.

11. A switch as in claim 10 further characterized in the provision ofrmeans for adjusting and varying said predetermined time interval. VMARCUS H. RHODES.

JOHN FANZOI.

after the switch has been independently actuated alternative direction, said 

